Discernment

St. Francis on Vocations

Saint Francis was once asked by the friars if he would try to persuade a certain man of good life to join the Order. But he said:

‘It is not my business, brothers, nor yours to try to induce anyone to join our community. Our business is to preach penitence, both by the example which we give and by the words which we speak, and to draw all men to love and serve Christ and to hate and despise the world. It is for God, unto whom all hearts be open, to choose and to call those who are suitable for our way of life and to give them grace to be loyal to it. In fact, He who planted this Order in the world desires that its directions and its size and its future should be wholly left to Him. For one of the ways in which the devil will try to destroy the Order will be through bad and thoughtless admissions. 

Evil spirits will make all kinds of unsuitable men want to join the Order, and will stir up the minds of Ministers so that they take in large numbers without testing either the firmness of purpose or the kind of motive or the strength of will of those whom they accept. Rather they will be swayed by such things as rank and wealth and learning and ability and reputation. And when such men have been admitted they will try to alter the whole intention of the Rule, and will consider themselves too good to keep the purity of it which is so dear to Christ. 

So you see that, in order to foil the cunning of the evil and to ensure the right progress of the Order, God wills that the Ministers shall accept only such men as have Christ and His Spirit in their hearts and who work to know the things of God, for by such only will the Order continue in purity and holiness of life, and in all righteousness and perfection.’ (Saint Francis on the Reception of Novices, Omnibus of Sources p. 1844)

In addition to that which is recommended by our father, St. Francis, as read above, aspirants to our religious community must be traditional Catholic, under the age of 35, free from debt, neither married or divorced, and of strong mental and physical health. An understanding of the crisis in the Church and a complete rejection of Vatican II is also required.